Switching mechanism



March 19, 1946. c. W.HAWTHORNE ET AL 2,396,787v

SWITCHING MECHANISM Filed July 14, 1942 s Sheets-Shed 1 4 MM y ww mm 5 M W1 w mm\ WE 5 A0,

arch 19, 1946 c. w. HAWTHORNE ET AL 2,395,787

SWITCHING MECHANISM Filed July 14, 1942 v 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 gvwQ/Mow CHAEZEJ 1/11. HAWTHORNE GEORGE E M4114 March 19, 1946; c. w. HAWTHORNE ET AL 1 I 2,396,787

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c 9 v m 1' N 'l m I m w E 13% 9 I 2 LL 7 i \9 1 \0 US 3 (h I {g {g ammo :6 I M CHARLEJ 31 HAWTHORNE GEOR E P. MALM March 6- c. w. HAWTHORNE ET AL 2,396,787

SWITCHING MECHANI SM Filed July 14, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 CHAR LE5 I V. HAWTHORNE GEORGE P. MALM March 19, 1946. c. -W. HAWTHORNE ET AL ,7

SWITCHING MECHANISM Filed July 14, 1942 5.Sheets-Sheet 5 CHARLE J V. HAWTHORNE' GEORGE P MALM Patented Mar. 19, 1946 SWITCHING MECHANISM CharlesW. Hawthorne and George P. Malm,

Worcester, Mass., asslgnors to Morgan Construction Company, Worcester, Mass., a. corporation of Massachusetts Application July 14, 1942, Serial No. 450,870

3 Claims.

This invention relates to switching mechanism by which elongated metal bars and the like can be directed selectively into any one of a plurality of paths, and in particular the invention is an improvement over the mechanism disclosed in the patent to Hawthorne No. 2,181,401.

The switching mechanism of the said prior patent comprises a. guide device which can be moved into registration selectively with a plurality of stock receiving channels having their entrances in a horizontal row. To move the guide device from one entrance to another, it is first lowered to a path offset from the said row, then moved along this path, and finally raised to bring it into registration with the desired entrance. The movements of the guide device along the offset path are brought about by a group of hydraulic motors which are connected to the device by a series of links, levers, etc., and the vertical movements of the device are effected by an additional hydraulic motor. This requires an ex'- pensive, complicated and bulky apparatus. Furthermore, the motors are all of the single acting type and therefore provide for positive movement in one direction only, the return movement being by the action of gravity alone. This may be insuilicient in some cases, particularly if some part of the mechanism should create excessive friction or resistance because of warpage, entrance of scale from the stock, lack of lubrication, or otherwise. A stillfurther disadvantage of the prior mechanism is the necessity for additional motors when additional entrances are provided.

It is accordingly one object of the invention to provide a switching mechanism which will be of comparatively simple, inexpensive, and compact construction.

' It is a further object of the invention to provide a switching mechanism which will require only two hydraulic motors.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a switching mechanism including a guide device which can be positively moved in all necessary directions.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a switching mechanism including a guide device which can be moved into registration selectively with a plurality of entrances arranged in a row,

, the construction being such that the movements of the device along the row can be effected by a single motor regardless of the number of entrances provided.

With these and other objects in view, as will be the specification and covered by the claims appended hereto.

Referring to the drawings illustrating one embodiment of the invention and in which like reference numerals indicate like parts,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a switching mechanism, with certain valves and piping omitted for clearness of illustration;

Fig. 2 is an elevation taken on theline 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an elevation taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; I

Fig. 4 is a plan view of an elevating motor, with certain portions shown in section;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 55 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 66 of Fig. 4;

Fig. '7 is a plan view of a traversing motor, with certain parts shown in section;

Fig. 8 Ba sectionon the line 8-8 of Fig. 7; Fig. 9 is a section on the line 99 of Fig. '1;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged section on the line ill-l0 of Fig. 7, showing the construction of a pilot valve mechanism;

Fig. 11 is a section on the line I l-ll of Fig. 10; Fig. 12 is a section on the line i2l2 of Fig--10; Fig. 13 is a section on the line l3i 3 of Fig. 10; Fig, 14 is a section on the line I l-44 of Fig. 10; Fig. 15 is a plan view of a sleeve forming part of the valve mechanism shown in Fig. 10;

Fig. 16 is a side elevation of the sleeve shown in Fig. 15;

Fig. 17 is a section on the line i'|-l 1 of Fig. 16; Fig. 18 is an elevation of a control valve mecha-- nism;

' Fig. 19 is a section on the line 19-19 of Fig. 18;

and

Figs. 20, 21 and 22 are somewhat diagrammatic views showing the control valves in different positions.

Referring first to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the embodiment illustrated comprises a platform 25 across strand rod rolling mill' (not shown).

which heated metal billets may be discharged in an endwise direction from a suitable furnace (not shown) for delivery into a selected one of three separate paths or channels 26, 21 and 28 with their entrances arranged in a horizontal row and constituting the receiving guides for a multi- Between the platform 25 and the receiving guides there is provided a switching member or guide device 30 having a pair of upstanding flanges 3| thereon which converge in the direction of travelto form a narrow' discharge slot 32. Beneath this slot there is provided a forwardly projecting lug 33 which is adapted to enter one of a series of notches or recesses 34 underlying and corresponding in number to the channels 26, 21 and 28. To bring the discharge slot 32 into registration with a different channel, the switching member 30 must first be lowered to free the lug 33 from the particular notch 34 within which it happens to be located, whereupon the switching member may be traversed horizontally along the row of entrances to a position adjacent a selected entrance. raised to bring the slot 32 into registration with the desired entrance, the lug 33 at the same time entering the corresponding notch 34. To allow these movements of the switching member, it is provided with wheels 38 which rest upon a pair of parallel horizontal rails 31 extending in the direction of the desired traversing movement and carried by upstanding arms 38. These arms are secured at their lower ends to horizontal shafts 33 supported in bearings 40. To one of the shafts 33 there is keyed or otherwise secured an operating arm 42 which can be swung back and forth to raise and lower the rails 31' and the switching member 30 resting thereon. As so far described, the apparatus may be similar to that disclosed in the patent to Hawthorne No. 2,181,401 granted November 28, 1939.

In order to raise and lower the switching member 30 in a desired manner, the upper end of the arm 42 is connected by a link 43 to an arm 44 supported in abearing 45. The upper end of this arm 44 is connected by a link 46 to a crosshead 48 (Fig. 3) which is slidably supported in a stationary guide 49. This crosshead is connected to the piston rod 50 of a fluid motor 51. To obtain the desired traversing movements of the switching member 30, it is connected by a link 53 to a crosshead 51 (Fig. 2) which is slidably supported in a stationary guide 55. This crosshead is connected to the piston rod 56 of a'fluid motor 51.

Referring now to Figs. 4, and 6, it will be seen that the fluid motor 5| comprises a double-acting piston 53 secured to the rod 50 and provided with a pair of piston rings 80. This piston is slidable within the cylindrical liner sleeve SI of a cylinder 52. The ends of the cylinder are closed by plates 3 and 84 having stufling boxes 65 for the passage of the piston rod therethrough. For convenience the end of the cylinder adjacent the plate 63 will be referred to as the crank end and the end adjacent the plate 84 will be referred to as the head" end. Near the crank end of the cylinder, the sleeve 6| is provided with a. circumferential row of ports 61 which communicate with a circumferential groove 68 in the interior of the cylinder 62, this groove communicating with a.

pipe 69. Similarly, near the head end of the cylinder, the sleeve is provided with a circumferential row of ports II which communicate with a circumferential groove 12 in the cylinder, com-- municating with a pipe I3. The sleeve is also provided with two additional rows of ports and 16 which communicate with grooves 11 and 13 respectively in the cylinder, these grooves communieating with pipes 19 and 80 respectively. The rows of ports 15 and 16 are located between the The switching member will then be.

rows .of ports 61 and H and adjacent thereto respectively. For convenience the ports 61 and II will be referred to as the outer ports, and the ports 15 and I5 as the inner ports. It will be noted that the inner ports are elongated in the direction of piston travel, and the piston rings 60 are so located and spaced that just before the piston reaches either end of the'cylinder they will close the adjacent inner ports. In Fig. 5 the piston is shown at the head end of its stroke, which corresponds with the raised position of the switching member 30.

The movements of the piston 53 are controlled by a manually operable valve mechanism shown in Figs. 18 to 22 inclusive. This mechanism comprises a pair of three-way cocks or valves 82 and 83, with their rotary plugs aligned and connected by a horizontal shaft 85 to which is keyed or otherwise secured a hub 86 having a handle 81 projecting therefrom. These valves are mounted on a stand 88 which is preferably located at a point from which the operator can conveniently watch the operation of the switching member 30. The port arrangement is the same for both valves and is indicated at the left side of Figs. 20, 21 and 22. A supply pipe 90 delivers a suitable pressure fluid, such as compressed air, to the front opening of the valve 82, and an exhaust pipe 91 is connected to the front of the valve 83. The pipes 89 and 13' are connected respectively to the top and rear openings of the valve 82, and the pipes 13 and 80 are connected respectively to the rear and top openings of the valve 83. With this construction, and the handle 81 lowered as indicated in Fig. 20, the pipes 69 and 80 will be closed, and pressure fluid can flow from the supply pipe 30 through the valve 82, ipe 13 and ports 1! to the head end of the cylinder 62, forcing the piston 59 to the left and lowering the switching member, the fluid escaping from the crank end of the cylinder through the orts 15, pipe 19 and valve 83 to the exhaust pipe 9|. As the piston rings 60 gradually close the elongated ports 15, the escaping fluid will be throttled, and the piston will be brought to a smooth stop by the cushioning effect of the fluid trapp d in the crank end of the cylinder. Similarly, by raising the handle 81 as shown in 'Fig. 21, the pipes 13 and 19 will be closed, and

pressure fluid can flow from the supply pipe 30 through the valve 82, pipe 89 and ports 61 to the crank end of the cylinder 62, forcing the piston to the right and raising the switching member, the fluid escaping from the head end of the cylinder through the ports H5, pipe 80 and valve 83 to the exhaust pipe 9i. Closure of the elongated ports 16 by the piston rings will gradually throttle the escaping fluid and bring the piston to a smooth stop.

Referring now to Figs. 7, 8 and 9, it will be seen that the fluid motor 51 comprises a doubleacting piston 93 secured to the rod 56 and slidable within the cylindrical liner sleeve 34 of a cylinder 95. The ends of the cylinder are closed by plates 36 and 91 having stuiflng boxes 98 for the passage of the piston rod therethrough. For convenience the end of the cylinder adjacent the plate will be referred to as the crank end and the end adjacent the plate 31 will be referred to as the head end. Near the crank end of the cylinder, the sleeve 94 .is provided with a circumferential row of ports 99 which communicate with a circumferential groove Hill in the interior of the cylinder 35, this. groove communcating with a pipe IOI. Similarly, near the head end of the cylinder, the sleeve is provided with a circumferential row of ports I02 which communicate with a circumferential groove I63 in the cylinder, communicating with a pipe I04. In addition to the two rows of "outer" ports 93 and M2, the sleeve 94 is provided with three axially spaced rows of inner ports I05, I01 and I08 which communicate respectively with annular grooves H0, III and H2 in the outer surface of the sleeve, and with pipes H4, ll5' and I I3 respectively. These inner ports are elongated in the direction of piston travel, their lengths being only slightly less than that of the piston 83. The various parts are so arrang ma the stop cock-handles I42. Each lever. I40 is provided with a projecting lug I" which is arranged to cooperate with a similar lug I48 pro- Jecting from the hub 80. These parts are so constructed and arranged that with all the handles raised, as shown in Fig. 21, the lugs I48 will lie in the path of the lugs I41 and prevent lower- III or II2 the switching member will be aligned with the entrances 21 or 28 respectively.

The pipes IOI and I04, which lead to the outer ports 88 and I02, are connected with an automatic pilot valve mechanism II8 shown in detail in Figs. 10 to 1'7 inclusive. This valve mechanism comprises a piston valve I I 8, preferably H-shaped in longitudinal cross-section, slidably mounted in the cylindrical liner sleeve I20 of a cylinder I2I. The ends of the cylinder are closed by plates I22 which carry pins I23 extending axially inward to limit'the .movements of. the valve IIO within the sleeve I20. The sleeve is provided with a pair of diametrically opposedoutlet ports I25 leading to a channel I28 in the outer surface of the sleeve, this channel communicating with the pipe WI. The sleeve is also provided with a pair of diametrically opposed outlet ports I21 leading to a channel I28 in the outer surface of the sleeve and communicating with the pipe I04. The ports I25 and I2I are spaced apart axially a distance greater than the length of the valve H8; so that when one set of ports is closed, the other set will be open, and vice versa. In addition the sleeve is provided with a pair of diametrically opposed inlet ports I30 and a second pair of diametrically opposed inlets ports I3I, all four of 8 o any of the handles I42. Once the handle 81 has been lowered as shown in Fig. 20, the

lugs I48 will be out ofthe path of the lu s I4'I,

' member 30 of Fig. 1 will be aligned with one of with the entrance which will next be empty for the admission of the next bar. Assume this is the entrance 21. The operator will first lower the handle 81 of the three-way valves 82 and 83,

- which will admit compressed air from the pipe 80 these inlet ports communicating with a channel I32 in the outer surface of the sleeve. This channel I32 is supplied with water or other suitable fluid under pressure by means of a pipe I33 connected to the central portion of the cylinder I2I. The inlet ports I30 and I3I are somewhat smaller than the outlet ports I25 and. I21, and their remote edges are slightly farther apart than the remote edges of the outlet ports, so that as the valve II8 moves in-either direction it will close the outlet ports'before the inlet ports are fully closed. It will be noted that adjacent each end of the valve the inlet and outlet ports alternate around the circumference of the sleeve, there being in fact a ninety degree spacing of these ports. A small longitudinal groove I35 extends from one of the inlet ports I30 along the interior of the sleeve to the adjacent end thereof, and a similar groove I36 extends from one of the inlet ports I3I to the other end of the sleeve. These grooves prevent complete closure of the inlet ports, re-

gardless of the valve position.

The three pipes I I4, Send I I6 from the traversing motor of Fig. 8 lead respectively to three stop cocks I38, I38 and I40 (Fig. 18) which in turn are connected to a common drain or disthrough the valve 82 and pipe I3 to the right hand end of the elevating motor 5|, at the same time allowing the air from the left hand end of the motor to exhaust through the pipe I9, valve 83 and pipe 8I. This will move the piston 58 to the left end of the cylinder 62, and this will act 40 through the mechanical connections shown to charge pipe I4I. The axes of these cocks are aligned horizontally, and each cock has an operating handle I42, the arrangement being such that with the handle raised as shown in Figs. 20

and 21 the cock will be closed, and with the hanlower the rails 31 and the switching member 0 carried thereby, freeing the lug 33 from the notch 34. The operator will then lower the handle I42 of the stop cock I39,- which corresponds to the selected entrance 21!, thereby opening this cock. Water will now flow from the supply pipe I33 through the channel I32 (Figs. 10 and 11) and inlet ports I3I lntothe sleeve I20, thence through the outlet ports I 2], channel I28, pipe I04 and ports I02 to the right hand end of the cylinder (Fig. 8), and thence through the ports I0'I, pipe H5 and cock I39 to the discharge pipe I4I. Since the inlet ports I3I restrict the water flow, and particularly since these ports are smaller than the outlet'ports I2' I, there will be a decided reduction in the water pressure on the right hand side of the valve I I0, and as a result the higher water pressure on the other side H5, until the piston reaches a position to close the ports I01. This will prevent further exhausting of the water. The water pressures on the two sides of the piston will balance, and it will come to rest, having moved the lowered switching member- 30 of Fig. 1 along the rails 31 and into position adjacent the entrance 2?. The operatorwill then close the stop cock I38 by raisin the'corresponding notch 34.

.80, and the piston 58 will move to the right,

raising the rails 31 and the switching member 4 30 to bring the slot 32 into registration with the entrance 21, the lug 33 at the same time entering Merely by manipulation of the handle 81 and a selected handle I42, the operator can cause the switching memher to move to any selected entrance, regardless of the position which it may happen to occupy. If this movement requires a reversal of its previous traversing movement, the pilot valve piston H9 will be reversed automatically by the fluid pressure, whereas if two successive movements of the switching member are in the same direction, no reversal of the pilot valve will occur. In moving the switching member to the intermediate entrance 21, the piston 93 may approach the ports ID! from either the right or the left side, but it will come to rest accurately in the same position in each case, since the piston is only slightly longer than the ports in order to ensure complete closure thereof. It will be understood that if more than three entrances are to be served by the switching member, additional rows of inner ports will be provided for the traversing cylinder, each row of course having its individual exhaust pipe connection and stop cock. This will not afiect the operation in any respect.

The invention is comparatively simple and inexpensive. It eliminates a large part of the mechanism required by the previously patented Hawthrone construction, and enables a single traversing motor to be used regardless of the number of entrances to be served. The operation is smooth, accurate and dependable. Both the motors are of the double-acting type, and therefore ensure positive movements of the switching member in all required directions.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: r

1. Actuating mechanism for a switching member which is movable into registration selectively with each of a row of more than two stock-receiving channels comprising a double-acting fluid motor to move the member to and from a path offset from the said row, manually controlled valve mechanism to control the motor, a second double-acting fluid motor having a movable element to move the member along the said path, a second manually controlled valve mechanism to cause the element to move into predetermined positions corresponding to the said channels, and

a mechanical interlock preventing operation of the second valve mechanism until the first valve mechanism has been operated to move the switching member to the offset path.

assays? its handle m, and then raise the handle in of the three-way cocks 82 and 83. This will admit 2. Actuating mechanism for a switching member which is movable selectively into each of a series or more than two positions comprising a cylinder, a double-acting piston slidable therein andadapted' to be connected with the said member, the cylinder having two outer ports adjacent its opp site ends and a series of axially spaced inner ports intermediate the outer ports, the piston being arranged to close the respective inner ports when moved into predetermined positions corresponding to the said positions of the switching member, manually controlled valve mechanism to control the discharge of fluid from bore, means connecting the outlet ports respectively with the said outer ports, a cylindrical pilot valve slidable in the bore to control the outlet ports by sliding over one or the other thereof, and means to supply fluid under pressure to the bore on both sides of the valve regardless of the valve position, the pilot valve moving automatically by fluid pressuredifl'erential to close such of the outlet ports as is connected to an outer port in communication through the cylinder with an inner port which is discharging fluid.

3. Actuating mechanism for a switching member which is movable selectively into each of a series of more than two positions comprising a cylinder, a double-acting piston slidable therein and adapted to be connected with the said member, the cylinder having two outer ports adjacent its opposite ends and a series of axially spaced inner ports intermediate the outer ports, the piston being arranged to close the respective inner ports when moved into predetermined positions corresponding to the said positions of the switching member, manually controlled valve mechanism to control the discharge of fluid from the cylinder through the inner ports, a valve casing having a cylindrical bore with two axially spaced outlet ports opening laterally into the bore, means connecting the outlet ports respectively with the said outer ports, a cylindrical pilot valve slidable in the bore to control the outlet ports by sliding. over one or the other thereof, the valve casing having two axially spaced inlet ports communicating with the bore on opposite sides of the valve and somewhat smaller than the outlet ports, and means to supply fluid under ressure to the inlet ports, the pilot valve moving automatically by fluid pressure differential to close such of the outlet ports as is connected to an outer port in communication through the cylinder with an inner port which is discharging fluid.

CHARLES W. HAWTHORNE. GEORGE P. MALM. 

